Psalms 120:1

KJV

¶ A Song of degrees. In my distress I cried unto the LORD, and he heard me.

KJV (with Strong's)

A Song {H7892} of degrees {H4609}. In my distress {H6869} I cried {H7121} unto the LORD {H3068}, and he heard {H6030} me.

Complete Jewish Bible

A song of ascents: I called to ADONAI in my distress, and he answered me.

Berean Standard Bible

In my distress I cried to the LORD, and He answered me.

American Standard Version

In my distress I cried unto Jehovah, And he answered me.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 120:1 serves as a poignant and powerful introduction to the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), immediately establishing a foundational theme of profound personal distress met with the unwavering faithfulness of God. The psalmist recounts a past experience of desperate supplication, declaring with confident assurance that the LORD not only heard but also responded effectively to their cry. This opening verse sets a tone of trust and reliance on divine intervention amidst life's trials, inviting the reader into a spiritual journey marked by both human vulnerability and the steadfast promise of God's deliverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 120:1 functions as the inaugural verse of the "Songs of Ascents" (Hebrew: _Shir Hama'alot_), a unique collection of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134). This distinct superscription signals a common purpose or setting for the entire compilation. The psalm immediately plunges the reader _in medias res_, presenting a deeply personal testimony of crisis and divine resolution. This directness is characteristic of the collection, which frequently transitions from individual lament or petition to communal praise, national hope, and theological reflection on God's protection and the longing for peace in Jerusalem. The brevity and personal nature of this opening verse effectively set the stage for the broader themes explored throughout this significant section of the Psalter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The title "Songs of Ascents" is widely interpreted as referring to the pilgrimage songs sung by Israelites as they "ascended" to Jerusalem for the three annual pilgrim festivals: Passover, Weeks (Pentecost), and Tabernacles. Jerusalem is geographically elevated, necessitating an ascent, and the journey itself was a profound spiritual act of drawing near to God's presence. Alternatively, some scholars propose these psalms were chanted by Levites as they ascended the fifteen steps leading from the Court of Women to the Court of Israel within the Temple complex. The psalmist's "distress" in this context, while deeply personal, also resonates with the collective anxieties and hopes of a people journeying towards God's holy city, often from challenging or hostile environments, as later psalms in the collection like [Psalm 121](/psalms/121 "Psalm 121 - The Lord is your Keeper") and [Psalm 122](/psalms/122 "Psalm 122 - Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem") vividly illustrate.
* **Key Themes:** This inaugural verse introduces several pivotal themes that resonate throughout the Songs of Ascents and the broader Psalter. Foremost is the theme of **earnest prayer in distress**, highlighting the believer's immediate and instinctive turning to God in moments of profound need. The psalmist's act of "crying unto the LORD" powerfully underscores the accessibility of God and the efficacy of fervent supplication, a truth beautifully echoed in [Psalm 34:17](/psalms/34-17 "Psalm 34:17 - The Lord hears the righteous"). Hand-in-hand with this is the theme of **God's faithful responsiveness**, powerfully affirmed by the declaration "and he heard me." This is not a mere hopeful plea but a confident testimony of past divine action, providing immediate comfort and assurance. Finally, the verse establishes a **personal testimony** of faith and deliverance, which serves as a profound encouragement for all who embark on their own "ascents" through life's challenges, trusting in the God who consistently hears and responds, much like the confident affirmation found in [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - In my distress I called to the Lord").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Distress (Hebrew, _tsârâh'_):** The Hebrew word צָרָה (_tsârâh_) is derived from a root meaning "narrow" or "tight." It conveys a powerful sense of being hemmed in, constricted, or in a desperate situation with no apparent escape. This term implies a feeling of intense pressure, oppression, and severe trouble, emphasizing the overwhelming nature of the psalmist's predicament—a situation where one feels "pressed on every side" (cf. [2 Corinthians 4:8](/2_corinthians/4-8 "2 Corinthians 4:8 - Perplexed but not in despair")). It denotes a state of anguish and tribulation.
* **Cried (Hebrew, _qârâʼ'_):** The verb קָרָא (_qârâʼ_) signifies more than a casual whisper; it implies a loud, urgent, and earnest call or proclamation. It denotes a desperate, heartfelt plea for help, often in a public or urgent manner, akin to "calling out to" someone. This is the fervent cry of someone in dire need, summoning divine attention and intervention, reflecting the intensity of the psalmist's desperation and unwavering trust that God is a present help in trouble (cf. [Psalm 46:1](/psalms/46-1 "Psalm 46:1 - God is our refuge and strength")).
* **Heard (Hebrew, _ʻânâh'_):** The Hebrew verb עָנָה (_ʻânâh_) primarily means "to eye" or "to heed," implying to pay attention and, by extension, to respond. In this context, it signifies not merely auditory perception but God's attentive, compassionate, and effective response to the cry of His servant. It implies that God not only registered the sound but also comprehended the need and acted on it, validating the psalmist's faith and providing a powerful declaration of divine faithfulness and active intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ A Song of degrees.":** This is the superscription or title of the psalm, indicating its inclusion in the unique collection known as the "Songs of Ascents" or "Songs of Steps." It immediately sets the literary and contextual stage for the entire psalm, suggesting a journey, a progressive movement, or a series of stages, whether physical (a pilgrimage to Jerusalem) or spiritual (a growth in faith and understanding). This title identifies the psalm's genre and its place within a larger thematic unit.
* **"In my distress":** This phrase establishes the immediate and deeply personal context of the psalmist's experience. It describes a state of intense personal trouble, anguish, or confinement, emphasizing the profound difficulty of the situation. This is the starting point of the narrative, a declaration of a past or ongoing predicament that prompted a desperate and urgent response from the psalmist. The possessive "my" underscores the individual and experiential nature of this suffering.
* **"I cried unto the LORD,":** This clause details the psalmist's decisive and faithful action in response to their distress. Instead of turning inward to despair, outward to unreliable human aid, or to other gods, the psalmist directs a fervent, urgent plea specifically to "the LORD" (Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel). This signifies an act of profound faith, acknowledging God as the ultimate, sovereign, and only true source of help and salvation. It is a testament to the psalmist's theological conviction.
* **"and he heard me.":** This concluding clause delivers the powerful resolution and confident testimony. It is a declarative statement of past divine action, affirming that God not only perceived the cry but also responded effectively and compassionately. This immediate affirmation of God's attentiveness and active intervention transforms the potential lament of distress into a declaration of confident faith and experienced deliverance, setting a tone of hope and assurance for the entire collection of the Songs of Ascents.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 120:1 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful and immediate message. The most prominent is **Personal Testimony**, as the psalmist directly states "I cried... and he heard me," creating an immediate, relatable, and authentic account of divine interaction. This direct address draws the reader intimately into the psalmist's experience of suffering and subsequent deliverance. There is also a strong sense of **Juxtaposition**, contrasting the profound "distress" of the human condition—a state of being "narrow" or confined—with the immediate and effective "hearing" and responsiveness of the sovereign God. This highlights the vast difference between human limitation and divine power and compassion. The psalm also begins **_In medias res_**, plunging directly into the heart of the action and its resolution without preamble, which creates a sense of urgency and immediate impact, gripping the reader from the outset. Finally, the structure presents a clear **Problem-Solution** paradigm: the problem of distress is immediately followed by the solution of God's responsive hearing, offering a concise and powerful message of hope and divine faithfulness that undergirds the entire collection.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Psalm 120:1 lays a foundational theological truth: God is a God who hears and actively responds to the cries of His people, particularly in their deepest distress. This immediate affirmation of divine responsiveness underscores God's immanence and His active, personal engagement in the lives of believers. It establishes prayer not merely as a ritual or a hopeful gesture, but as an effective and potent means of communication with a personal God who is intimately attentive to human suffering. The verse implicitly teaches about God's unwavering faithfulness and profound compassion, demonstrating that even when circumstances are "narrow" and overwhelming, the pathway to divine help remains open, accessible, and effective. This confidence in God's hearing ear serves as the bedrock for navigating the subsequent "ascents" and challenges presented throughout the pilgrimage psalms, assuring the worshiper that their journey is not undertaken alone.

* [Psalm 34:6](/psalms/34-6 "Psalm 34:6 - This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.")
* [Psalm 18:6](/psalms/18-6 "Psalm 18:6 - In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.")
* [Lamentations 3:55-57](/lamentations/3-55-57 "Lamentations 3:55-57 - I called on your name, O Lord, from the depths of the pit; you heard my plea: 'Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.' You came near when I called on you; you said, 'Do not fear.'")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 120:1 offers profound and timeless encouragement for believers navigating their own seasons of "distress" today. It models an immediate and instinctual response to trouble: turning directly and fervently to the LORD. In a world that often encourages self-reliance, distraction, or despair in the face of difficulty, the psalmist's testimony powerfully reminds us that our first and most effective recourse is earnest prayer to the God who sees, knows, and hears. The powerful declaration "and he heard me" is not just a historical account but a timeless, living assurance. It invites us to pray with unwavering confidence, knowing that God is not distant or indifferent, but actively attentive and compassionate towards our cries. This foundational truth empowers us to bring our anxieties, fears, and seemingly desperate situations before Him, trusting that He will respond according to His perfect will and timing, transforming our narrow places into spaces of divine intervention, peace, and renewed hope. As part of the Songs of Ascents, it also reminds us that life is inherently a journey, often marked by challenging "ascents," but through it all, our unwavering trust in God's listening ear remains our constant source of strength and ultimate hope.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What is your immediate, instinctual response when you find yourself in "distress" or a "narrow place" in life?**
* **How does the psalmist's confident declaration, "and he heard me," challenge or affirm your own faith in God's consistent responsiveness to prayer?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you need to "cry unto the LORD" with greater urgency, honesty, and expectant trust today?**
* **How can remembering God's past faithfulness in hearing your prayers strengthen your resolve and hope in current or future trials?**

### FAQ
**What does "A Song of degrees" mean in the title of Psalms 120?**

Answer: "A Song of degrees" is the King James Version translation of the Hebrew _Shir Hama'alot_ (שיר המעלות), which is more accurately rendered as "Song of Ascents" or "Song of Steps." This title refers to a unique collection of fifteen psalms (Psalms 120-134). Scholars generally agree it indicates these psalms were sung by pilgrims as they "ascended" to Jerusalem for the three annual festivals (Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles), as Jerusalem is geographically elevated. Alternatively, it might refer to the fifteen steps leading up to the Temple in Jerusalem, which Levites would ascend while singing these psalms during worship. The title thus provides crucial context, suggesting a journey—whether physical pilgrimage or spiritual progression—towards God's presence and holy city, often characterized by stages of growth, challenge, and ultimate hope, as seen in the thematic progression from distress in [Psalm 120](/psalms/120 "Psalm 120 - A Song of Ascents") to the peace of Jerusalem in [Psalm 122](/psalms/122 "Psalm 122 - Prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem") and the blessing of the Lord in [Psalm 134](/psalms/134 "Psalm 134 - A Call to Bless the Lord").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 120:1, with its raw depiction of human distress and the immediate, confident affirmation of God's hearing, finds profound and ultimate fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the quintessential pilgrim on earth, experienced distress far deeper than any human could fathom, culminating in His agony in Gethsemane where He "offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence" ([Hebrews 5:7](/hebrews/5-7 "Hebrews 5:7 - Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane")). Even His cry from the cross, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" ([Matthew 27:46](/matthew/27-46 "Matthew 27:46 - Jesus' cry from the cross")), though seemingly unanswered in the moment of His suffering, was ultimately "heard" and vindicated in His glorious resurrection, demonstrating God's ultimate deliverance from death and sin. Furthermore, Jesus is the one through whom all our cries are heard and answered; He is our great High Priest who continually intercedes for us at the right hand of God ([Hebrews 7:25](/hebrews/7-25 "Hebrews 7:25 - Jesus intercedes for us")), and the one who promises that whatever we ask in His name, the Father will do ([John 14:13-14](/john/14-13 "John 14:13-14 - Asking in Jesus' name")). The "ascent" envisioned in the psalm finds its true destination in the heavenly Jerusalem, to which Christ, our forerunner, has ascended ([Hebrews 6:20](/hebrews/6-20 "Hebrews 6:20 - Jesus, our forerunner, entered the inner sanctuary")), paving the way for all who, in their distress, cry out to the Lord through Him, confident that their prayers are heard and answered in Him.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 18:6

In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.

Jonah 2:2

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, [and] thou heardest my voice.

Psalms 118:5

I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, [and set me] in a large place.

Hebrews 5:7

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

Psalms 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalms 130:1

¶ A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.

Psalms 107:13

Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, [and] he saved them out of their distresses.